COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

Apprehension in public speech

A presentation by:

Matthew BediakoCredits:

Isaac Nuopre(Research Support)

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

• Definition of Apprehension

• Nature of Communication Apprehension

• Causes of Apprehension in public speaking

• Effects of Apprehension on public speaking

• How to overcome apprehension in public speaking

DEFINITION OF APPREHENSION

• “Speech is a mirror of the soul,” commented Publilius Syrus, a popular writer in 42 BC

• The term "communication apprehension“ was coined by McCroskey (1970) and refers to an anxiety syndrome associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons.

• According to James McCroskey, communication apprehension is the broad term that refers to an individual’s “fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons (McCroskey, 2001).

DEFINITION OF APPREHENSION

• Richard Nordquist defines communication

apprehension as Public Speaking Anxiety (PSA):

the fear experienced by a person when delivering

(or preparing to deliver) a speech to an audience.

• Public speaking anxiety is sometimes referred to as

‘stage fright’

• Brydon & Scott (2000) see apprehension as speech

anxiety which refers to the feelings of discomfort

that people experience before, during and even

after speaking in public

NATURE OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

• "In a 1986 study of about a thousand individuals, researchers

discovered that people identified public speaking as their

number-one fear. Public speaking anxiety even outranked such

fears as going to the dentist, heights, mice, and flying."(Sheldon

Metcalfe, Building a Speech. Wadsworth, 2010)

• Physiological Symptoms of Communication Apprehension:

• Heart pounding, hands feeling clammy, break out in a sweat, We

may have “stomach butterflies”, feel nauseated, hands and legs

might start to shake,

NATURE OF COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

• Cont…

• begin to pace nervously, voices may quiver, “dry mouth” sensation

that makes it difficult to articulate even simple words, rapid breathing

and, might feel dizzy or light-headed.

• Powerless to control our bodies, become so anxious that we fear

we will forget our name, much less remember the main points

of the speech we are about to deliver.

CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

A. Feeling Conspicuous and Inspected: Being singled

out, with the attention of an audience directly on

the speaker, causes communication anxiety.

B. Facing an Unfamiliar or Dissimilar Audience:

Speaking before an audience of individuals that the

speaker does not know, that holds attitudes

different from the speaker, or that is from a

different culture than the speaker produces

communication anxiety.

CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

C. Confronting a Novel or Formal Speaking Situation:

Lack of experience in speaking before a group

induces communication anxiety.

D. Feeling Subordinate to Your Audience: Speaking

situations that define the speaker by status or rank

may cause communication anxiety if the speaker is

of lower status compared to others.

CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC

SPEAKING

E. Undergoing Evaluation: The sense of being

appraised as a speaker heightens communication

anxiety.

F. Remembering Repeated Failures: Memories of

previous failures in similar situations are a common

source of communication anxiety.

CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC

SPEAKINGG. Relying on English as a Second Language:

Communication apprehension may be especially

high when a speaker speaks before an audience

whose primary language is different from his or her

own. E.g.

• Speakers with regional accents or dialects are often perceived as less motivated and intelligent solely because they pronounce words in an unfamiliar way.

(Developing Confidence: Coping With Your Fears About Public Speaking)

www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/kearney/instructor_resources/.../chap4.rtf

CAUSES OF APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC

SPEAKINGBrydon & Scott (2000) identified the following as the

causes of speech anxiety:

• Pessimistic attitude towards speaking

• Inadequate preparation and practice

• Negative or insufficient experience

• Unrealistic goals

• Inaccurate perception of the audience

• Negative self talk

• Misdirected concerns

EFFECTS OF APPREHENSION ON PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Technically, apprehension can be classified as a noise factor in communication channels because it can inhibit both the encoding and decoding processes of the speaker and the audience respectively. This can:

• Impede academic progress. i.e. In situations where viva voce examinations like thesis defence, class presentations etc.

• Reduce the credibility of the speaker.

• Mar social/academic/ political/religious etc. programmes

HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

A. Reducing Your Fears

• Systematic desensitization: Systematic desensitization (SD) focuses

on the physical responses to apprehension. When people become

anxious, their muscles tighten. SD works on the principle that, by

substituting muscle relaxation, people can learn to cope with

anxiety-producing situations, including communication situations.

• Cognitive restructuring (CR): Cognitive restructuring focuses on

changing specific irrational beliefs that underlie people’s emotions,

i.e. rejecting Negative self-statements while using Coping

statements.

HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Skills training: Skills training reverses the causal sequence of

the two previous cognitive restructuring methods. It assumes

that limitations in people’s communication skills influence

their apprehension levels. Once individuals learn how to

communicate effectively, their apprehensions will be reduced.

B. Managing Your Stage Fright

• Select a familiar topic: Selecting a topic that is unfamiliar to

the speaker increases the time that would be spent organizing

and rehearsing the speech.

HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Focus on the audience: Most highly anxious speakers focus more

attention on themselves than on the audience or other environmental

factors associated with the event. An audience-centered approach to

public speaking is likely to remove some of the most basic fears of

public speaking. Approach the speech like an extended conversation.

• “Over-prepare”: The best way to reduce fears about giving a speech

is to spend time planning, researching, and organizing the

presentation right down to the last example or well-thought-out

dramatic conclusion. Once the outline is in order, spend time

rehearsing and revising

HOW TO OVERCOME APPREHENSION IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Visualize a positive experience: Visualization techniques require speakers to see themselves as successful. These techniques can accentuate the positive aspects of a speech.

Brydon & Scott (2000) also identified the following as ways of controlling speech anxiety:

• Develop an optimistic attitude towards speaking

• Don’t procrastinate preparing your speech

• Look for opportunities to gain speaking experience

• Set realistic goals

• Realise that the audience wants you to succeed

• Practise constructive self talk

• Direct your concerns at important issues.